Many Islands Ships

Tied-Up

By Australian Strike

SHIPPING services from Aus tralia to the Pacific islands are already disrupted by the Aus tralian waterside strike which com menced on November 2.

Waterside workers are striking against amendments to the Steve doring Industry Act. now before Parliament, which, for the first time in seven years, proposes to give shipowners some rights to nominate their waterside workers.

Under the present set-up, introduced during a former Labour Govern ment, the Union has sole right to choose who shall or shall not work on the wharves.

The present Government says that the Union has abused its privileges by not allowing sufficient men to work on the wharves and by selecting only militant workers who will support any trouble-making Union policy.

The Burns Philp vessel Bulolo, which made a special excursion to Melbourne carrying cup visitors, was still there on November 8, and the company expects her to be there until at least the 16th. Bulolo was due back in Sydney on November 5, and was due to sail for P-NG on November 9. (See page 50.) Passengers who went to Mel bourne on her, are permitted to stay on board at no extra expense; or the Company will pay their their fares by alternative transport back to Sydney.

Malaita is due in Sydney on No vember 10 and her next sailing is indefinite. Mangola is tied up in Sydney.

Soochow, of the Australia-New Guinea line, is tied up in Sydney.

The Company can make no definite plans for her sailing until the strike ends.

Sinkiang, of the same line, is due in Sydney in mid-November.

All these islands ships were ex pected to carry Christmas mails, parcels and stores for Papua-New Guinea and other parts of the SW Pacific.